Boston College AD Praises O'Brien

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Boston College AD Praises O'Brien

By Mike Petraglia

Sep 4, 2007

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Chestnut Hill, Mass. — In his 10 years at Boston College, Tom O'Brien made a name for himself as a head coach.

And now N.C. State coach O'Brien will lead another team into his old home, when the Wolfpack plays at Boston College at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN2).

Across the field will be many of O'Brien's old friends and former recruits.

Under his guidance, Boston College made bowl appearances in each of his last eight seasons.

But it was the last one that made headlines.

O'Brien entered into negotiations with N.C. State before his Boston College team accepted a bid to the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte. The 58-year-old O'Brien decided Dec. 9 to go to N.C. State.

Feelings were hurt inside and outside the athletics department at Boston College, and O'Brien wasn't allowed to coach the bowl game against Navy.

Eventually, Boston College athletics director Gene DeFilippo hired away Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski to become Boston College's 33rd head coach on Dec. 19.

DeFilippo says the school has gotten over what happened last December.

"Tom O'Brien did a wonderful job here and we'll always be thankful for all that he did," DeFilippo said. "Tom felt that it was better for he and his family to move along. He'll do a terrific job at N.C. State. We're really excited to have Jeff Jagodzinski here and the staff that he's brought in. He's our 33rd coach so we've done this before."

What they hadn't done before, at least under O'Brien, was open up the offense.

That has changed. Boston College's new wide-open offense led the way in a 38-28 victory over Wake Forest Saturday, as quarterback Matt Ryan threw for 408 yards and five touchdowns.

"Coach O'Brien was great here and did a lot for us," DeFilippo said. "This is a different coach who brings a different approach. He brings a lot of energy to practice and I think we all feed off of it."

Replacing Dana Bible as offensive coordinator at Boston College is Steve Logan, who was at the helm Saturday as the Eagles offense kicked into high gear.

"I'm really impressed with the things (Logan) does offensively, and I think he has the best pupil in the country," DeFilippo said, referring to Ryan. "I know I'm prejudiced but I'm excited that it's time for them to finally show it off."

On the other side of the ball, Boston College senior cornerback DeJuan Tribble, another O'Brien recruit, was named National Defensive Player of the Week on Sunday by the Walter Camp Football Foundation after tying a career high with three interceptions in the season-opening win.

"To me, it's just another game," Tribble said. "Some guys are feeling emotional about it, but I'm just going out there and treating it like a regular game."

DeFilippo isn't anticipating any bad blood between the two programs, although O'Brien and Jagodzinski will clearly be competing for many of the same recruits.

"Coaches don't play games, players play games," DeFilippo said. "So, when Tom O'Brien comes up here, N.C. State's going to be playing against Boston College. It's not Tom O'Brien and Jeff Jagodzinski. I never saw a coach that scored a point or kicked a field goal."

Most Recent Comments

Well I hope as the AD praises O'Brien, his old team doesn't kick our rears. :)

Go Pack!

Sorry "Obrien", before all you spelling hawks get me.

Well the 1st game got the QB situation taken care for us. Evans looked timid, unsure, and just wasnt a leader on the field. Maybe Beck, can bring that to the position, something we havent seen since you know who. Not throwing the ball away when you are about to get sacked in the endzone, theres no excuse for that. I liked the comment Obien made about the players need to realize they arent as good as they think they are. A reality check, I think too many times, Amato had these guys thinking way to highly of themselves, and it showed on the field. This is a clean slate, and it's time to go to work. Maybe not this year, but Obrien will get it done.

Should be a good game. Logan would like nothing better than to continue beating up on ncsu.

I do not know how long it takes a coach to have a team ready to play. Especially during your first season as coach. I understand that the game plan has totally changed and the players have to learn a new system. So, I say this knowing what we face as a team and accept we are regrouping. So, I'm going to say it, O'Brein did not have his team ready to play Saturday. First or second play 80 yd. touchdown. Two 12 men on the field penalties. But, I do believe it will happen, it's just not there yet.

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